Michael Kevin Powell American politician, Republican, Chairman of the FFC under B. Clinton Date of Birth: 23.03.1963 Country: USA

1. Early Life and Education
2. Military Service and Injury
3. Legal Career and Government Service
4. Chairman of the FCC
5. Media Reform Advocacy
6. Technological Innovations
7. Other Responsibilities
8. Post-FCC Career

Early Life and Education

Michael Kevin Powell was born in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1963 to Colin Powell, who would later serve as Secretary of State under President George W. Bush, and Alma Powell. Powell graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1985.

Military Service and Injury

Powell served in the U.S. Army, where he sustained a severe injury in an army jeep accident. The injury required extensive rehabilitation for approximately a year.

Legal Career and Government Service

After recovering from his injury, Powell worked as an analyst in the Department of Defense. He also earned a Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University Law Center, practiced private law, and clerked for the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Chairman of the FCC

In 1997, Powell was appointed by President Bill Clinton as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), a Republican representative in a Democratic administration.

Media Reform Advocacy

During his tenure as FCC Chairman, Powell advocated for reforming the American media landscape. He proposed deregulating the ownership rules for broadcast media and increasing the permissible audience share for a single media company. These proposals drew criticism from those who argued that they would lead to media consolidation and the dominance of large corporations.

Technological Innovations

Powell supported the introduction of various technologies and initiatives in the media sphere. He recognized the potential of Skype and its transformative impact on communication. He also implemented rules that allowed mobile phone users to retain their numbers when switching carriers.

Other Responsibilities

In addition to his regular duties as FCC Chairman, Powell served as the agency's "Civil Defense Commissioner" and played a role in emergency preparedness. He also engaged in a conflict with radio personality Howard Stern, resulting in significant fines for Stern's show.

Post-FCC Career

Powell resigned from the FCC in 2005. He joined the Board of Trustees of the RAND Corporation in 2006 and served on the faculty of the College of William and Mary until 2009. Powell is married to Jane Knott Powell and has two sons, Jeffrey and Bryan.